Over the last eighteen months, the online video landscape has absolutely exploded. Not only does the amount of time spent watching YouTube videos continue to increase, but platforms like Facebook have put significant resources behind video, including live broadcasts. As with other forms of online usage, much of this consumption now takes place on mobile devices.

While a lot of the videos people are watching come from content creators focused on entertainment or other subjects, plenty of businesses have found a lot of success with videos. One of the strengths of video is it allows people to connect in a way that’s simply not possible through text or even audio. Whether you’re focused on developing a brand around a specific personality within your business or want a way to demonstrate all of the different benefits your products have to offer, video is a great way to accomplish those goals.

Producing Videos is Easier Than Ever

Although video is a proven medium that’s here to stay, for every business that is currently utilizing videos, there are countless others that are hesitant to do so. From concerns about production to not knowing what to focus on, there are plenty of excuses for not publishing videos.

However, what businesses need to understand is people don’t expect TV level production from online videos. In fact, plenty of creators have found that their engagement drops when they’ve polished their videos too much. As long as a business makes video with decent lighting, good sound, interesting topics and a length that doesn’t drag on forever, they will start to see positive results. All of those things can be accomplished with a little planning, a smartphone camera, free editing software and natural light.

How to Ensure People Watch Your Videos

So, once a business takes the plunge and starts producing online videos, how can they ensure people will watch them? The best way to accomplish this goal is to distribute videos through multiple platforms. Uploading videos to YouTube with optimized titles and descriptions are an obvious starting point. Additionally, businesses should also send videos to their email lists. This is a great way to increase engagement.

In terms of how to send marketing emails that include videos, it’s generally best to link to where your video is hosted instead of embedding directly. This can be done by linking a thumbnail in the video to YouTube, your website or wherever your video is hosted, along with including the link URL in plain text. Taking this approach will help maximize the number of email recipients who access and watch your videos.

If you’re looking for a platform that will allow you to take full control of your email marketing efforts, be sure to take a look all of the features that Global IntelliSystems has to offer.